In today’s world, it is hard to define love and the emotions that come with it. Love can be many things. It can be kind, patient or even painful. No matter where you may stand in your journey with love, Echoes of the Heart: A Musical Revue is bound to resonate with you.
The musical is an original production written, directed and performed by students. Through a combination of acting, dancing and singing, the play captures what dating looks like for the current generation.
What to Expect
Echoes of the Heart is a jukebox-style musical that encompasses the different stages of love. Whether romantic or platonic, the musical speaks to the heart. It takes the audience through four stages of love: honeymoon, spellbound, breakup and self-love.
The honeymoon stage is the early phase of a couple’s relationship where everything feels like a perfect fairytale. The spellbound stage is when you tend to overlook the red flags your partner is expressing. The breakup stage explores navigating the pain and emotions of heartbreak. Lastly, the self-love stage is the moment of realization, when you recognize that you are longing for love.
So buckle your seatbelts for an emotional rollercoaster that not even Disney could beat.
Showtimes and Ticket Prices
The production will run from Feb. 25 to March 1, 2026. The first showings on Wednesday and Thursday will begin at 8 p.m., with tickets starting at $6 for FAMU students and $26 for FAMU employees.
Weekend performance times vary by day. On Friday, Feb. 27, the show will begin at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 28, there will be two showings, one at 2 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m. On Sunday, March 1, the final showing will begin at 3 p.m.
More information about ticket prices can be found on the theatre’s official page.
Behind the Scenes
Ryan Pettaway, the playwright, shared behind-the-scenes insights into her inspiration and the production of the play.
“I really drew inspiration from what my friends tell me about their dating experiences,” said Pettaway. She added, “One night, I was watching the movie Valentine’s Day and thought it would be so cool to portray it as a musical.”
Over the span of six months, Pettaway and her assistant directors discussed and composed the scripts and songs for the play. She shared that the original script draft was written in 2022 and has undergone many revisions to become what it is today.
“The first script had continuous characters being brought from the beginning to the end. In this script, different characters will appear, and you will not get the full beginning, middle and end of every relationship,” said Pettaway.
A Sneak Peek from the Cast
The cast consists of 14 actors and actresses who portray emotions audience members may be experiencing. Corynne Moss-Brewer, a graduating senior in the main cast, expressed what could be expected from her character.
“You can expect a lot of joy, attitude and pizzazz brought to the production. It’s about love in all aspects. As women, you know we can get a little sassy sometimes, especially when men are involved. So, I had a lot of fun playing somebody who stands on business,” she stated.
She also mentioned elements of the play that stood out to her.
“The title of the play, Echoes of the Heart, intrigued me. Part of the word echo’s definition is a lingering trace. I think that’s interesting because that’s kind of how love is in all of our lives,” said Corynne.
A Viewer’s Thoughts and Expectations
Morghan Tyler, an anticipating viewer, expressed what drew her attention to the play.
“About two months ago, I went to see the Fat Ham production, and I was pleased to see different students from different majors participating. I just knew I wanted to go and see how they put this production on. It has a lot more music and something I haven’t seen, especially at FAMU, before.”
Tyler has always enjoyed watching musicals growing up, so this production is right up her alley. She hopes to place herself within the play and evoke a sense of reality. When she leaves the theatre, she wants to have a new outlook on love.
“I’m hopeful that I can grow in different ways and have a better understanding of how I and others view love,” she stated.
Want to Get Involved?
If this play interests you, be sure to follow the theatre’s official page for updates on future productions. If you are looking to be part of a production, you can reach out via email at essentialtheatreunion.famu@gmail.com.
